The impact of infection and varicocele on fertility

Does infection affect semen quality?

Turn on the TV, read the newspaper, or browse the internet, and you'll see advertisements that are loudly and aggressively promoting urinary tract diseases.

Systemic infections will definitely cause infertility and must be treated immediately. Clinically, patients often ask:

"Will a urinary tract infection affect semen quality?" In fact, urinary tract infections...

"Dyeing" is a broad term that includes various causes; whether it affects semen quality depends on the specific circumstances.

Depending on the type of infection, some conclusions remain controversial in the medical field.

Generally speaking, reproductive tract infections can cause a decline in fertility from multiple angles and levels.

The decline is mainly manifested in the following aspects.

(1) Directly damages the reproductive organs, causing adhesions and blockages in the reproductive tract.

(2) Affects testicular spermatogenesis: Acute orchitis can lead to extensive destruction of the testicular parenchyma.

The ability to produce sperm may decline or even disappear.

(3) Affects seminal plasma composition and sperm function: Infection of accessory glands causes abnormal secretory function.

Normally, the composition of seminal plasma changes, and pathogenic microorganisms and white blood cells in the semen can also affect sperm.

The negative impact is that white blood cells disrupt the microenvironment for sperm survival, thereby affecting sperm motility.

Studies have found that bacterial infections of the reproductive system (Escherichia coli, Ureaplasma, and Chlamydia trachomatis)

Staphylococcus aureus and tuberculosis can affect semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and vitality.

The parameters changed significantly.

Mycoplasma is one of the common pathogens causing urogenital tract infections. In cases of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection,

Epididymal fluid often contains high titers of sperm agglutinin (a type of sperm antibody), which sperm can adsorb.

Sperm antibodies are needed; only when these antibodies coat all sperm can they contribute to infertility.

It plays an important role. However, other studies suggest that this antibody has no connection to infertility.

Link.

The mumps virus can cause viral orchitis, a common complication of mumps.

This condition can cause testicular softening and atrophy, directly affecting sperm production. During the inflammatory process, the epididymis...

Both can be affected simultaneously.

Genital herpes is caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus, which has now been found in semen.

If herpes simplex virus DNA is present, a semen analysis will show changes in sperm count, motility, and...

Survival rate decreased. Following antiviral treatment, semen quality improved as the virus was controlled.

It may enable the woman to conceive successfully. Therefore, herpes simplex virus infection may be a cause of male infertility in some men.

The reason is that some believe the semen quality of men who test positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) is lower.

Some people believe that this connection is still unclear.

What is varicocele?

Patients often ask: "What is varicocele? Is it related to infertility?"

"What?" Let me give a brief introduction below.

In a man's scrotum, there is a vas deferens, an artery, and a vein on each side.

The cord-like tissue composed of [various components] is medically known as the spermatic cord, and the veins within the spermatic cord are called spermatic veins.

The spermatic cord vein. Due to anatomical features and various factors influencing male physiological development, the spermatic cord vein...

Blood in the venous can reflux (meaning that venous blood that should flow upwards into the heart turns around).

(Flowing downwards into the testicles and surrounding organs), the spermatic veins become congested and dilated, forming worm-like veins.

A cluster of veins, this condition is called varicocele.

Varicocele is a common condition in men, affecting approximately 10% of young men.

Approximately 40% of infertile men have varicocele of varying severity. Traditionally, clinical...

Doctors consider varicocele to be the most common cause of male infertility because of the following reasons:

Several aspects.

(1) In cases of varicocele, blood stasis in the spermatic veins can cause vaginal swelling.

Increased temperature within the scrotum can lead to a corresponding increase in testicular temperature of 1-2°C. Prolonged and sustained elevated temperature can...

It affects sperm production in the testes, leading to azoospermia and oligospermia. At the same time, elevated epididymal temperature also...

It is beneficial for sperm maturation.

(2) Blood stasis causes increased pressure in the spermatic vein, making it difficult for metabolic waste products to be produced.

The lack of oxygen and nutrients can impair sperm production and maturation.

(3) When there is varicocele on the left side, the reflux of blood can carry some substances produced by the adrenal glands.

Some substances, such as serotonin and prostaglandins, are carried to the testes. Serotonin, in particular, can be toxic to the testes.

Prostaglandins can reduce blood circulation in the testes and increase epididymal contraction, which is detrimental to sperm production.

Maturation affects sperm motility.

(4) Varicocele can damage the interstitial cells of the testis, reduce testosterone secretion, and cause...

A decrease in peripheral blood testosterone levels can cause endocrine disorders (such as changes in blood follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone).

Increased levels of progesterone can interfere with sperm production and maturation.

Previous reports indicated that surgical treatment improved semen quality in 49%–77% of cases. However,

Numerous clinical studies have now found that surgical high ligation of varicose spermatic veins does not...

A significant increase in the probability of female pregnancy occurs. Therefore, varicocele plays a role in male infertility.

Its effects require further research.

How can we produce the highest quality and strongest sperm?